IT'S less than 72 hours since he slotted that match-winning kick, but Gavin Henson is already being touted as a possible "million- pound-a-year man".

Henson's stock has risen immeasurably since Wales' famous victory over England on Saturday.

So much so that PR guru Max Clifford last night spoke of him as, potentially, the latest recruit to sport's millionaires' club.

"As an English rugby fan, I think he should be put down the deepest mine and filled in," he joked before adding, "It sounds like he's got a touch of the Beckhams and Guscotts and if he's got the talent to go with it, then he could be in the millionaires' club.

"He's arrived onto the big stage. What Saturday did was to give him that platform to potentially join the elite.

"If it continues like this, he's joining the millionaires' club. But it's not just a question of doing it on the pitch and it happens automatically.

"He needs the right people around him and the right sponsors.

"He's joined the exclusive club and has the potential to be earning a million pounds a year.

"However, right now he'll be a hero in Wales, but he'll be little known outside rugby circles.

"He's got to become a household name and how many rugby players from the past couple of decades have become household names? Not many. But he's got the potential and, if things go well, he could be in the million-a-year club."

Clifford cautioned that the chances of "silver boots" Henson overtaking the likes of "golden balls" Beckham on the strength of a single performance alone was slimmer than a leg-shaver's razor blade.

"It's a huge victory because it's over England and if, at the end of the season, rugby fans are still singing his praises, as they were about Jonny Wilkinson, then of course that's the time to have a serious discussion," he added.

"But at the moment you are just talking about huge potential; the reality is it's too soon.

"The real money isn't going to come from a one-off performance."

And, although hardened Welsh fans might balk at the very suggestion, Clifford added that Henson's chances of making the rich list would be better if he wore the dreaded white shirt.

"It would be a lot easier, if he was English, to tap into the big money," he said.

"But if he emerges as an absolute hero on the Lions tour, he could become a hero in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland."

The trick was, he said, to get him into all the right functions and film premieres.

But regardless of whether his image takes off on the global stage - and the hope is that a successful Six Nations and subsequent Lions tour could see his cachet go stellar - his distinctive hairstyle has already gained him a host of faithful admirers in the Swansea and Neath area.

His hairdresser, Mark Jermin, says he has been inundated with requests for Henson-style cuts over the past 18 months and is expecting the spiked look to be very much this year's big thing in light of Saturday's performance.

"He's very much an inspirational figure. We've already had a teenager wanting to have spiked up hair," he said last night, "And I think we will see a surge of this through our business."

And the man who has also cut for the likes of former EastEnder Charlie Brooks and Eurovision hopeful Jessica Garlick, believes Henson has his own brand of Beckham-esque style.

"He looks after himself with regard to his image," he added, "He uses a lot of product in his hair - mainly a thick glue gel which has a very, very firm hold."

Just like his tackles, then.

Between England's Golden Boy and Wales' Silver-Booted Wonder, who would win in the image stakes?

GAVIN HENSON

Club: Neath/Swansea Ospreys - a club forged from the heartlands of industrial and maritime South Wales and its dwindling coalfield legacy.

Style: Gavin twinkles like a diamond amid the precious setting of a hopeful new golden dawn for the Welsh team. (8/10)

Greatest international achievement: His incisive kicking from hand, robust tackling and mighty place-kicking propelled Wales to their first victory in Cardiff against the old enemy for 12 years. (7/10)

Sponsorship deals/potential: With his looks and his distinctive hair and tan he could easily walk into contracts with Brylcreem, St Tropez self-tan and an array of hair-dye manufacturers if he keeps this form up - especially on the global stage of a successful Lions tour. (7/10)

Hair rating & tan rating: His hair-raising coiffure perfectly complemented his hair-raising tackles on poor old Mr Tait at the weekend. And tan-wise, can it be a coincidence that he plays in the same neck of the woods as that other perma-tanned Welshman Peter Hain? Is there something about the Neath/Swansea climate that Derek Brockway isn't telling us? Clearly in the David Dickinson league or, as thousands of sunbed salons would have it, "Tan-fastic"! (10/10)

Steve Black's (former Wales and current Newcastle Falcons fitness guru) rating: Gavin has stepped onto the stage and I think he's going to become a great player. I don't want to put too much pressure on him but he's handled it very well. He's got lots of skills, he's good physically and what he's got that sets him apart is he believes in himself and all great players believe in themselves. (6/10)

And the Girly 'fit' rating: "Sometimes it's hard to focus on Henson's playing skills because you're too busy thinking, 'what is it with the man's hair?'" says Claire Hill. "I'm guessing he needs industrial strength gel to keep that over-the-top Elvis quiff going but let's hope he's not like Samson, because if it snaps he might be more worried about his look than his kicks. (5/10)

Most recently seen wearing: A pair of cool silver Nike boots - this season's must have fashion accessory. (10/10)

Total: 53/70

JONNY WILKINSONClub: Newcastle Falcons, a club forged from the heartlands of industrial and maritime North East England and its dwindling coalfield legacy.

Style: Squeaky-clean golden boy of English rugby who can do no wrong. The Cliff Richard of rugby - but without the naff Christmas singles (damn). (9/10)

Greatest international achievements: What hasn't he won? He's picked up the World player of the year award. Twice. He's won Six Nations championships with England. Oh, and there's that small matter of kicking the winning score in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. (10/10)

Sponsorship deals/potential: He's often cited as the thinking-person's answer to David Beckham but, despite bringing a world cup home, rugby's relative low profile has meant this 'golden boy' hasn't cashed in in the same way as old 'goldenballs' - but he has trademarked his stance. (8/10)

Hair & tan rating: A distinctly indistinct 'Average Joe' coiffure that doesn't have a hair out of place and speaks of conservative barbershop rather than a Beckham-esque salon. Skin tone-wise, he conveys an image of health and vigour without the 'office tan'. (5/10)

Steve Black's rating: "Jonny's the best. He's achieved it all. At this moment in time he's been world player of the year twice I think it's fair to say he's had a fair run! But what I think is exciting is the prospect of him and Gavin playing together on the Lions tour." (10/10)

Girly 'fit' rating: "It's not really hard to be considered pretty in a game where facial injuries and cauliflower ears are de rigueur and a sign of a match well-played," says Claire Hill. "So when you get someone who looks like your normal, average good-looking bloke in the game then the girls will go wild. Wilkinson is attractive in an inoffensive way, he looks like he doesn't spend too much time faffing with his hair. Gets a point for the cute way his eyes disappear when he smiles, a bit like Renee Zellweger." (7/10)

Recently seen wearing: A plaster cast. (0/10)

Total: 49/70

Gavin takes it because of his recent high profile. Jonny was let down by more than a year on the sidelines